Pakistan, China to launch satellite to monitor CPEC projects

Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for the launch of a special satellite to monitor the development of the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

In this regard an agreement was signed between Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the China Great Wall Industry Cooperation (CGWIC) for the development and launch of the "Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS-1) System in June 2018.

The agreement would also transfer space technology to Pakistan and the PRSS-1 is yet another flagship project between China-Pakistan relations after CPEC. The CPEC is a collection of projects worth $46 billion currently under construction.

Pak-China relations : The bilateral cooperation between the two countries in space domain would open new vistas of socio-economic and scientific cooperation, giving boost to the historic bilateral cordial relations in other fields. It would also help Pakistan in national security arena by strengthening border security and surveillance apparatus.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a collection of projects currently under construction at a cost of $46 billion. It is part of China’s regional transnational ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) initiative and its Maritime Silk Road project that connects large patch of Asia and Eastern Europe.

It is intended to rapidly expand and upgrade Pakistani infrastructure, as well as deepen and broaden economic links between Pakistan and the People's Republic of China. It will link Kashgar in Xinjiang province of China to Gwadar deep sea port close to Pakistan’s border with Iran.

Funding of the poject :

The projects would be financed by heavily-subsidized concessionary loans at an interest rate of 1.6% that will be dispersed to the Government of Pakistan by the Exim Bank of China, China Development Bank, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

If all the planned projects will be implemented, the value of those projects would be equal to all foreign direct investment in Pakistan since 1970, and would be equivalent to 17% of Pakistan's 2015 gross domestic product.

Advantage for China :

Currently, nearly 80 per cent of China’s oil is transported by ship from the Strait of Malacca to Shanghai, a distance of more than 16,000 km, but once Gwadar begins operating, the distance would be reduced to less than 5,000 km.

Moreover the location of Gwadar Port is strategically important as it lies close to the Strait of Hormuz (near Iran), a key international oil shipping lane. The port can also be used by the Chinese Navy for military purpose.

CPEC will develop Kashgar in to a trade terminus connencting the isolated and underdeveloped Xinjiang province to rest of China and other Asian countries.

Various land locked energy rich Central Asian countries are keen to connenct themselves to the infrastructure networks of CPEC as it will give these countries easy access to the Indian Ocean.

Advantage for Pakistan :

The corridor project will create some 700,000 direct jobs between 2015–2030 and add up to 2.5 percentage points to the country's growth rate.

Infrastructure projects under the aegis of CPEC will span the length and breadth of Pakistan and eventually link the Pakistani city of Gwadar and Xinjiang province of China via a vast network of highways and railways.

As part of infrastructure projects worth approximately $11 billion, an 1,100 kilometre long motorway will be constructed between the cities of Karachi and Lahore.

The Karakoram Highway between Rawalpindi and the Chinese border will be completely reconstructed and overhauled.

Over $33 billion worth of energy infrastructure will be constructed by private consortia that will alleviate Pakistan's chronic energy shortages, which regularly amount to over 4,500MW, and have shed an estimated 2-2.5% off Pakistan's annual GDP.

Concern for India: India has been protesting the corridor's passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir ever since the project was kicked off by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Islamabad last year as it passes through the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) which may impact the security of the nation.

Practice Questions

Q1

Which of the following was the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to be established in India?

India and Mozambique have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on reduction of drug trafficking and psychotropic substances and related materials, cooperation in the field of youth affairs and sports, and long term agreement for purchase of pulses .

These MoUs were signed between Secretary of Economic Relations in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Amar Sinha and Mozambique's Finance Minister in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique.

Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Mozambique in 34 years. He will also visit South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

Long term agreement for purchase of pulses : India's commitment to buy pulses from Mozambique would help meet India's requirement. It will also facilitate long-term investments in commercial farming, generation of farm employment and raise farmers' incomes in Mozambique. India will encourage greater production of pulses in Mozambique with an assurance that it will be purchased by India at a mutually-agreed price.

Jul 07, 2016Govt nod to MoUs between India and Mozambique in the field of Drug demand reduction and prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Mozambique on Drug demand reduction and prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals and related matters.

The MoU is aimed to enhance mutual cooperation between the two countries in combating illicit trafficking in Narcotic drugs, Psychotropic substances and their precursors through exchange of information, expertise and capacity building.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a long-term contract by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mozambique for import of pulses either through the private channels or Government-to-Government (G2G) sales through State Agencies nominated by the two countries.

Key Facts about the MoU :

The MoU aims at promoting the production of Pigeon Peas/Tur and other pulses in Mozambique by encouraging progressive increase in the trading of these pulses.

The MoU includes targets for exports of Tur and other pulses from Mozambique to India for five financial years and aims at doubling the trade from 100,000 tonnes in 2016-17 to 200,000 tonnes is 2020-21.

Background : The total availability of pulses including domestic production and imports were was less than domestic requirements putting pressure on the prices of pulses during the year 2015-16 and current year. To mitigate the shortfall in availability of pulses and supplement the existing efforts at meeting the requirements, the government has decided to enter into long term G2G arrangement with Mozambique.

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